Corporate

Skilled KC advanced manufacturing

Kauffman-backed Skilled KC launching trio of tech training pilots as KC sees unfilled jobs

By Tommy Felts / August 6, 2020

Editor’s note: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial sponsor of Startland News. This report was produced independently by Startland News’ nonprofit newsroom. [divide] Opportunity to jump into the tech workforce isn’t capped at age 18, said Jeff Barratt — nor does it require a two- or four-year degree. And the careers are waiting,…

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Donald Hawkins, Griffin; Matt Moody, Bellwethr; and Jerry Workman and Parker Graham, Destiny

Trio of KC fintech startups named finalists in Wichita-based NXTSTAGE pilot competition

By Tommy Felts / July 30, 2020

Three emerging fintech startups with Kansas City ties have found new entrepreneurial support southwest of the metro. Griffin, Destiny, and Bellwethr were announced as finalists in the Wichita-based, NXTSTAGE Pilot Competition, Wednesday — an effort designed to propel early-stage companies to the next stage of startup growth, largely through mentorship and connections to companies and regional…

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Ag giant Cargill teams with Plug and Play for new Topeka accelerator, set to debut in fall

By Tommy Felts / July 29, 2020

TOPEKA — Corporate food and agriculture giant Cargill has inked a deal with Plug and Play to serve as founding partner for its animal health and agtech accelerator program in Topeka.  The companies announced the news Wednesday, firming up details surrounding the launch of the long-awaited accelerator — first announced in September 2019 and originally slated to…

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Dan Smith, The Porter House KC

Heartland Challenge: Meet Kauffman’s 17 grantees (and the projects getting funded)

By Tommy Felts / July 15, 2020

The only way to regain lost momentum in the Heartland’s cities and rural areas: work together to develop, catalyze, and expand inclusive programs and strengthen regional ecosystems, said Melissa Roberts Chapman. A new portfolio of 17 grantee organizations is up to the challenge, she added. “Entrepreneurship represents an opportunity for this region to reverse a…

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Chris Cheatham, RiskGenius, and Travis Holt, Brush Creek Partners; bcp tech accelerator launch party, December 2019

Overland Park startup among half-dozen companies selected for KC’s new insurtech accelerator

By Tommy Felts / July 7, 2020

A new insurtech accelerator is ready to launch virtually, Brush Creek Partners announced this week, revealing the first cohort for bcp tech. “Despite the challenges of COVID-19, bcp tech attracted an incredible group of applicants, all with unique broker-focused insurtech solutions,” said Travis Holt, CEO and co-founder of bcp tech and Brush Creek Partners, reflecting…

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